There are shrubs for every use in the garden. In a grove, isolated, in a bed or in a hedge, these plants will accompany you for many years if you take a few precautions when planting them.
Before buying
It is necessary to find out beforehand about the shrubs you wish to introduce into your garden. Each terroir, climatic zone or type of soil will have a certain number of plants.
Thus, turn to acidophilic shrubs such as rhododendron, camellia or hydrangea if the pH of your soil is below 6. In neutral soil, everything is allowed by adding the right amendments if necessary (compost, sand, green manure...). In soil with a pH higher than 7, choose plants that appreciate limestone! You will find pH tests in all garden centers.
Remember also to make your choice according to the exposure of your garden, some shrubs appreciate the shade, others really need full sun to thrive.
Another important parameter is the persistence of the foliage, especially when it comes to creating a privacy hedge! Think about this before choosing your shrubs!
If you prefer flowers, think about encouraging biodiversity by choosing shrubs that will bloom over several months and produce berries to feed birds and small mammals.
Finally, find out how tall your shrub will be so you can tailor your purchase to the size of your garden. There are low-growing varieties that are ideal for urban backyards, patios, or very small gardens!
Soil preparation
Logically you have made your choice according to the parameters described above. We will therefore start with a shrub adapted to the soil in which it is to be planted, which avoids many worries.
- Ideally, the hole should be dug at least two weeks before planting, which will give the soil time to loosen and rebalance itself, thus promoting a better recovery.
- Choose the best planting time, depending on whether it is a bare root or container shrub. As a reminder, bare-root shrubs are planted in fall and winter outside the frost period, while containerized shrubs are planted in fall or spring. Note that the first ones have a better chance of recovery.
- Soak the root ball in room temperature water for at least an hour to hydrate it. Dress (prune) the roots of bare root shrubs if necessary and prune them.
- At the bottom of the hole, spread a thick layer of a mixture of garden soil and compost, add a good dose of mycorrhizae to promote recovery and ensure a better resistance of your shrub to weather conditions, pests and diseases. Don't neglect this step because the results are often spectacular!
Planting
- Install your shrub in the hole previously prepared by adjusting the height so that its collar is flush with the ground. Add soil to the bottom of the hole if necessary.
- Fill in the empty spaces until the hole is completely full.
- Water thoroughly to evacuate any air bubbles in the soil, then add more soil if the level has dropped during watering.
- Create a basin at the foot of your shrub to facilitate watering and to keep water at the foot of the plant.
- A mulch will prevent competition from weeds and protect the stump from the cold in winter and from evaporation in summer. This mulch is very useful on shallow-rooted shrubs such as raspberry bushes for example. Avoid it, however, on xerophilous shrubs that would not tolerate this constant humidity! To prevent weeds from growing, use a mineral mulch for these plants, which will retain heat and release it while remaining very attractive.
After planting
Every shrub needs about three years to establish itself and develop its root system properly. Be very careful about watering spring plantings, which will require a lot of water in the summer to ensure their recovery. This is why fall plantings are preferred, however, they can only be done on hardy varieties.
Remember to water your shrub well the three years following its planting, and don't forget to do so in winter, especially in southern regions where drought can last for long weeks even in winter! If it rains enough, don't add more water, because an excess of water can be as harmful as a lack, it's all a question of the right dosage.
Scratch a little compost and a few granules of organic fertilizer at the foot of the shrub in the spring to support the vegetative recovery, do the same after a pruning operation.
Pruning will take place at different times depending on the variety and the flowering period if the shrubs are in bloom.
A cleaning pruning in winter will favor the entry of air and light in the center of the shrub, which will avoid the installation of many parasites and diseases. Pruning also ensures a more opulent flowering on the shrubs that bloom on the new shoots produced.
With all these precautions, from selection to planting to maintenance, you are assured of a much better success with your shrubs!
